Saddle up a horse properly
Do you have to saddle up your horse yourself for your next riding lesson? This seems very difficult at first, but it is actually not. However, you have to be very careful. The saddle must lie correctly on the horse's back and must not press or cause chafing. Since every horse is built differently, the positions of the saddle differ accordingly.
Definition of the saddle position
The saddle position is the area on the horse's back on which a rider would sit without a saddle. This is behind the withers, exactly above the horse's center of gravity, because this is the best way for the horse to balance the rider's weight on his back. Anatomically, this area begins from the 9th Thoracic vertebrae and can extend up to the age of 15. Expand thoracic vertebrae. If the rider sits too far back, the additional weight leads to problems, as the spinous processes start to move from the age of 15. Thoracic vertebrae are already very close upwards due to the curvature of the spine.
Preparation for saddling
You can't just put the saddle on the horse and ride. This can have fatal consequences. First, make a few preparations.
- That fur the horse must be cleaned before saddling. Dirt and sweat can lead to chafing, which can make your horse unrideable for a while. So brush especially the area around the saddle thoroughly.
- Then check with your bare hand whether the fur has been cleaned properly. Also, watch out for bumps on the skin. If the horse has a horsefly in the saddle position, it is not advisable to ride it. In this case, you should clarify with your veterinarian how to proceed.
- Also check the saddlecloth and free it from all disturbing factors such as adhering hair, incrustations or even cracks in the material. If possible, the saddlecloth should only be used every other day so that it can dry and ventilate sufficiently.
- Buckle the stirrups securely on the saddle, because they should not slip down when saddling up. This can startle or hurt the horse.
Imagine suddenly putting a weight of 50 kg on your ...
Put the saddle on carefully
- Always saddle up from the left. So grab the pommel with your left hand - this is the bulge on the front edge of the saddle that gives the withers enough space. With your right hand you take hold of the rear pommel - the highest point on the rear seat.
- Raise the saddle well above the horse's back. This is not very easy with a large horse, so you need to get some momentum. The saddle must not be thrown on its back under any circumstances.
- First, carefully place the saddle just before the withers. This position is well before the actual saddle position, but this way you can move the saddle into the correct position later.
- Make sure that the saddlecloth or saddle pad does not wrinkle on either side. Go around your horse and control it.
- Now slowly slide the saddle into the correct position just behind the shoulder muscle. Here you smooth the fur in the direction of growth so that there is no possibility of scrubbing. The saddle pad must also leave enough space between the blanket and the skin at the withers, it should completely fill the shape of the saddle compartment.
Saddling up a horse with a pronounced saddle position is easy, the saddle practically slides into the correct position on its own. Some Horses but only have a hinted saddle position, even in young horses the musculature is not yet so well developed. Here you need to slide the saddle back very carefully and ask a skilled person to help you.
Belt the saddle gradually
Once you have found the right position, you have to fix the saddle so that it does not slip.
- Get on the right side of your horse and lower the saddle girth. The buckles must not hit the horse's legs, as this can lead to unpleasant injuries. A blow to the tendon and bone quickly results in an over-leg, which can mean a riding break of up to three months.
- Go back to your left side and pull the strap under your stomach onto your side. Now fasten the two buckles of the belt loosely to the welts on the saddle flap. You must not tighten the girth immediately, as this causes the saddle to be compulsory in most horses. They become restless, hit their heads, trample on the spot, fluff their stomachs and sometimes even start to snap at the rider. It takes time for a horse to adjust to the tighter harness.
- Check the fit of the belt; there should be at least a hand's width of space between the belt and the horse's elbow joint.
- First walk your horse for a few minutes before you retighten the girth. You also have to tighten the belt again before getting on and after further steps.
If you have gained experience in saddling, you can also slide the saddle girth down without changing to the right side. But then you have to catch it with a foot that you push through under your stomach.
